After the game, the Germans described their formation as a 4-2-3-1, but viewing the players involved, and you can see the direct correlation.

Philipp Lahm in the holding role = Kyle Beckerman. Tony Kroos at the wing, a player who can run a lot and play both forward and back = Alejandro Bedoya. Sami Khedira, normally a defensive midfielder tasked with clogging the middle on defense and stretching wide on offense = Jermaine Jones.

Then you move forward. Mesut Ozil, known for his dynamic abilities and versatility = Clint Dempsey. Mario Gotze (while this isn’t the best of comparisons) is an attacking midfielder who relies on creativity through the middle to produce for teammates = Michael Bradley.

Obviously there’s a gap in quality, but the styles are almost exactly the same in every position.

Now the question becomes, did Germany use this layout thanks to the US victory over Ghana, or is it something they’ve utilized in the past? The answer is it’s been used before, as they employed the exact same lineup in the 4-0 victory over Portugal.

So, as we can see, while Klinsmann has been successful molding his abilities and coaching styles to the players available to him in the United States, there are still German roots he taps into on occasion, and the victory over Ghana was one of them.

The downfall for Germany came in their midfield. Philipp Lahm and Sami Khedira both had a poor games in their holding roles. They combined for just one lone tackle completed, and their marking was poor, which allowed Ghana to build better chances up the middle.

In comparison, Jermaine Jones and Kyle Beckerman combined for seven tackles and two interceptions, and Jones was a beast in the air. As a result, if forced Ghana much further wide. In addition, Toni Kroos had a great game passing, but his side was vulnerable to the Ghanian attack, and they took advantage:

Photo credit: FourFourTwoPhoto credit: FourFourTwo

As you can see, there was much more available for Ghana in the middle against Germany, and everything against the United States came from out wide.

It could be argued that in this formation that’s obviously rooted in German soccer, the United States deployed it better than the origins of the style.

The goal was a war of attrition against the Ghanians, and the United States won, whereas the Germans couldn’t pull it off.

Never mind all that: Harry Kane was healthy, and scored three goals as Spurs kept pace with group mates Real Madrid in filing a 3-0 win at APOEL Nicosia in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Kane said he was very proud of the side’s performance, as youngster Anthony Georgiou and seldom-used Georges-Kevin N’Koudou put in shifts in the win. From the BBC:

“We weren’t pleased with the first-half and a couple of chances could have gone the other way. We were more clinical and in the Champions League that is what you have got to be.

“We are missing a few players but the lads who stepped in were fantastic. We have a solid squad and you have to be ready. 3-0 away in the Champions League no matter who you play is a good result.”

Kane has 11 goals in September between club and country, and has six hat tricks in 2017. There may not be a finer big striker firing in Europe right now, and both England and Spurs will hope to ride him well into 2018.

A point from far from home is not the end of the world, but Liverpool will rue its missed chances in a 1-1 draw at Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Artyom Rebrov had a stellar day for Spartak before being injured and then replaced by Aleksandr Selikhov, who was also strong for the Russians.

Fernando (not that one) scored a free kick for Spartak, while Philippe Coutinho bagged the equalizer that keeps the Reds ahead of Spartak on goal difference. Both sides are three points behind Sevilla.

Hugo Lloris flubbed an early clearance and was fortunate to see the back-bounding ball dribble wide of his left post.

Carlao could’ve given APOEL a surprise lead close to halftime but headed wide of the net from within 10 yards.

Kane nearly added an assist to his ledger at the start of the second half, but Son Heung-min just missed his effort wide of the frame.

He scored another goal anyway, and another one. Moussa Sissoko set Kane up for the second of the night, a relatively simple finish for the striker, and Kane completed his trio of goals when he headed Kieran Trippier‘s cross home.